By now, you’ve no doubt seen the ending. A frantic trap. A wild shot. A fortuitous tip. A heroic second chance.
As Shabazz Napier’s shot found the bottom of the net — the latest moment in a career of heroics — he bolted towards the locker room. Never afraid to take the big shot, the senior guard was afraid of the crush of the crowd. “I’m a little bit claustrophobic,” he said after the game.
When he reemerged from the tunnel flanked by his teammates, Napier strolled to mid-court for a postgame interview with ESPN, an indication that the looming crowd growing around him now also includes national media and tournament expectations. During his typical wrap up session with the press, representatives from ESPN and CBS prodded Napier to compare himself to Kemba Walker — the last UConn player to display a similar knack for hitting big shots. The ever-courteous Napier tried not to look annoyed.
The more this UConn team succeeds, and the more Napier’s stock rises, the more those questions will come. It’s an easy storyline — albeit a lazy one — that marginalizes both Napier’s transcendent abilities and the contributions of his teammates. Junior forward DeAndre Daniels saved the game as much as Napier did — tipping out an offensive rebound that landed perfectly in Napier’s hands for the game winner. Fellow senior Niels Giffey buried some big shots to cover for a struggling Omar Calhoun. Ryan Boatright led the team in assists as Napier looked to score more often. Lasan Kromah played incredible defense, while pulling down four important rebounds.
#12 UConn’s defeat of #15 Florida (6-2) is highlighted by the superhuman efforts of Napier, but don’t be fooled, it was a team victory. At 8-0 on the season, every victory has been a team victory, and the first player in the locker room to tell you that will be Napier.
Notes:
- Florida’s big men absolutely destroyed UConn. Phil Nolan and Tyler Olander fouled out without contributing much. Amida Brimah looked completely overmatched on defense.
- It took until there was one minute left in the game for UConn to unveil its best lineup against a bigger team. They went small with Daniels, Giffey, Kromah, Boatright and Napier. No matter who they put on the court, the Huskies were not going to be bigger than Florida. Why not go small and force them to adapt? Wish UConn would do this more often.
- I spoke to a Western Conference scout who was less than thrilled with the NBA prospects from either team. “There’s some really nice college players,” he told me. “There’s not a lot of NBA talent. I’ve seen DeAndre Daniels three times now and I’m still waiting for him to figure it out.”
- Florida coach Billy Donovan called Napier’s shot “lucky” and said “Daniels won the game for them.” It didn’t come off quite as salty in person as it does in print, but still kinda salty.
- Poems should be written about the performance of the student section. They were loud. They were disruptive. They were profane. They were phenomenal. If they showed up like that to every game at Gampel, there would be an uprising against big games at the XL Center. Here’s your pat on the back, kids. Now more of that, please.
Up Next:
Speaking of the XL Center, UConn will take on Maine (1-5) at the asylum on Asylum, Friday Dec. 6th. Tip will be at 7pm. The game will be on SNY.
